Video: Get to know a couple of the Ecomuseum residents

Kathryn Greenaway, THE GAZETTE02.23.2012

An otter climbs out of the water at the Ecomuseum in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, west of Montreal Saturday January 14, 2012.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

Biologist Helene Caron and Jweep, a great horned owl get the attention of Eenie, a woodland caribou at the Ecomuseum in Set. Anne de Bellevue, west of Montreal Monday January 24, 2012.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

An otter swims in its enclosure at the Ecomuseum in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, west of Montreal Monday January 24, 2012.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

A pair of otters swim in their enclosure at the Ecomuseum in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, west of Montreal Monday January 24, 2012.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

An otter swims in its enclosure at the Ecomuseum in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, west of Montreal Monday January 24, 2012.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

Personality: He’s a real pro with people and is one of the zoo’s ambassadors for its education department.

Jweep is so calm and composed with crowds that when he made a guest appearance for the launch of the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part Two, he arrived in front of the audience, counting in the hundreds, and yawned.

Interesting fact: Great-Horned Owls who have mated settle down for good, but single owls travel about looking for company.

Natural habitat: Great-Horned Owls are very adaptable when it comes to habitat and can nest in all sorts of different types of trees, ideally close to good hunting. They prefer rural settings, but have been known to nest in urban areas.

Where do you find the Great-Horned Owl? The Canadian Great-Horned Owl breeds in northern Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador. During the winter, it flies south to Ontario and the Eastern United States.

Name: Happy

Species: Northern River Otter

Age: 14

Happy was born in captivity and came to the zoo in 1998, when she was eight months old.

Favourite foods: Fresh, raw meat and certain fish.

Personality: Loves to wrestle and is very curious, especially when visitors drop by.

Interesting facts: Northern River Otters can hold their breath for up to seven minutes underwater.

Natural habitat: Northern River Otters thrive near both freshwater and marine coastal water, but are sensitive to water pollution and will move if the water is tainted.

Where do you find the Northern River Otter? In every province and territory in Canada, except Prince Edward Island.

Name: Casper

Species: Snowy Owl

Age: 17 (an estimate)

Casper was injured in the wild and has only one wing. He was rehabilitated at the Union Québécoise de Réhabilitation des Oiseaux de Proie and arrived at the zoo in 1995.

Favourite foods: Mice, quails and baby chicks.

Personality: Casper has settled down with Snowy Owl girlfriend Yam-Yam.

Interesting facts: The Snowy Owl is the official bird of Quebec. Harry Potter of book and film fame had a Snowy Owl he called Hedwig.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.